Knight took the reins as USARAK's top enlisted leader from Command Sgt. Maj. David O. Turnbull.

Turnbull, who has served more than eight years in Alaska, moves on to an assignment as command sergeant major for the Military District of Washington.

"Any success I've had here is due in great measure to all of you here today," Turnbull told the audience in farewell remarks.

Knight comes to his USARAK posting fresh from a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan as command sergeant major of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

In 2007, Knight deployed to Iraq as command sergeant major of another Alaska-based unit, the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment

"I am proud to serve United State Army Alaska," Knight said. "We have the best training area and the best Soldiers."

The Kansas City, Kan., native began his military career with a four-year enlistment in the Marine Corps.

He entered the Army in 1987 as an infantry rifleman and has served in nearly every non-commissioned officer leadership position, including team leader, squad leader, Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander, long range surveillance detachment team leader, operations sergeant, platoon sergeant, observer controller, first sergeant, operations sergeant major and command sergeant major.

His military and civilian education includes all levels of the NCO Education System, the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Ranger School, Long Range Surveillance Leader's Course, Marine Corps Sniper School, Marine Corps Infantry Mortar School, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Course, Jungle Survival Course, Survival Escape Resistance to Interrogation and Evasion Course, Basic Recruiter School, Jump Master School, and Pathfinder School. CSM Knight earned an associate's degree in general studies from Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan.